Evaluation of citrus rootstock response to HLB in large-scale existing field trials

Evaluation of citrus rootstock response to HLB in large-scale existing field trials

Report Date: 01/12/2021
Project: 18-029C   Year: 2020
Category: Plant Improvement
Author: Ute Albrecht
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

 1. Please state project objectives and what work was done this quarter to address them: Objective 1. Investigate rootstock effects on horticultural performance of Valencia and Hamlin trees commercially grown under HLB-endemic conditions using standardized field data collection procedures.Canopy color, disease and thickness visual ratings were completed in all trials. Trials were prepared for upcoming fruit sampling and harvesting, and tree identification tags were replaced in all four trials. Fruit samples were collected in the Hamlin trial at Basinger for fruit quality analysis at the CREC pilot plant. Hamlin trees at the Fort Basinger location were harvested in collaboration with the Lykes commercial harvesting crew.Objective 2. Develop outreach to transfer information to growers and other industry clientele.The complete datasets from years 1-2 were provided to the UF/CREC citrus breeding team during the last quarter and should now be available on their citrus field trial website. I continued to be engaged with CRDF representatives and attended plant improvement committee meetings to provide input on rootstock selection. A presentation “Effect of rootstock on the health of HLB-infected citrus trees and the interaction with biotic and abiotic soil factors” was given during the Materials Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) 2020 virtual Symposium (Nov 2020) which was attended by CRDF representatives.The manuscript “Field performance of `Hamlin’ orange trees grown on various rootstocks in HLB-endemic conditions” by Kunwar SG, Grosser J, Gmitter FG Jr., Castle W.S, and Albrecht U.  containing the first two years of Hamlin data was accepted for open-access publication in HortScience and will be available online soon.  2. Please state what work is anticipated for next quarter: Fruits will be collected from the Hamlin trees at the Lake Wales (Camp Mack) location and trees will be harvested. We will continue with the data analysis.  3. Please state budget status (underspend or overspend, and why): Approximately 57% of funds have been spent, which is slightly underspent due to Covid-19 related complications that affected research, travel, and hiring of personnel.  


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